If you’re looking for a new TV, you might not be able to find one that isn’t smart these days. A smart TV is just like any other TV, except it connects to the internet. This gives you access to thousands of movies and shows on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max. Here is our list of the best 4K smart TVs of 2022, including budget and high-end models for gaming, watching movies, and more.
If you’re having trouble picking the right smart TV, make sure to check out our quiz below:
To help you compare prices and features, all the smart TVs listed in this article are 65-inch models. However, you can also find all the following models in different sizes to suit your needs.
1. Hisense U6H: Best Budget TV
Hisense makes some of the best budget TVs, and the U6H is no different. With its full-array local-dimming LED technology, this TV can divide the screen into 32 different zones and dim the dark parts of the screen without affecting the bright areas. This improves the contrast and gives you a sharper image when watching movies, especially in the dark.
While the Hisense U6H doesn’t get as bright as other TVs, it does work with all major HDR (high dynamic range) formats, including Dolby Atmos. This will enhance the details in the shadows and highlights. There’s even a Filmmaker Mode, which instantly gives you the most accurate image your TV can display, even with non-HDR content.
If you want to know more about what HDR is and what it does, check out our previous guide here.
The biggest downsides of this smart TV are that it does not get very bright, so it’s better for darker rooms. It also has a 60Hz (hertz) refresh rate, so it’s not the best at handling motion, and you’ll experience blur when gaming or watching sports or action movies.
If you’re looking for a brighter alternative that is better for gaming, we also recommend the new TCL S555.
2. Sony X90K: Best Mid-Range Gaming TV
While there are a lot of low-end TVs and a lot of high-end TVs, there haven’t been many good mid-range TVs this year. The Sony X90K delivers great picture quality for its price range. Its high native contrast is great for watching movies in the dark, and it can get bright enough for well-lit rooms with lots of windows.
To improve the contrast, this smart TV has 54 local dimming zones, more than double last year’s X90J. But the color accuracy is not very good out of the box,
Since it was made by Sony, this smart TV has lots of features designed for PlayStation gamers. There are two HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can take advantage of current-gen game consoles. It’s also compatible with G-Sync VRR (variable refresh rate), which makes motion smoother in games.
Read More: What’s the difference between HDMI 2.0 vs HDMI 2.1?
All the features that Sony has added to their new TVs makes them one of the few manufacturers to carry IMAX Enhanced Certification. This ensures that you will have an immersive cinema experience at home.
If you are looking for a brighter TV with better colors, we also recommend the Hisense U8H if you can find it.
3. TCL R648 – Best Budget 8K TV for Early Adopters
If you’re the kind of person that likes to be the first in line to use new technologies, the TCL R648 is one of the best 8K TVs in its price range. With 33 million pixels, this ultra-high-definition TV can display four times as much detail as a 4K TV, giving you better picture quality.
While there isn’t much content that’s currently shot in 8K, this smart TV will upscale low-resolution content, so almost any movies and shows will look better with this smart TV. The TCL R648 has 240 local dimming zones, giving it one of the best contrast ratios of any 8K TV. And, since it uses mini-LED technology, the screen is also brighter and more evenly lit.
Unlike most smart TVs on this list, the TCL R648 is outfitted with decent-sounding speakers and even a big subwoofer on the back. While you might still want to get a soundbar to enhance your audio experience, you don’t need to with this TV.
For gaming, this smart TV supports VRR, it has a THX Certified Game Mode, and it comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports that are separate from the eARC port. And, like the previous TCL TV, the R648 also comes with the Roku interface, and it works with Alexa, Google, and Apple HomeKit smart homes.
If you’re looking for a brighter 8K TV with more local dimming zones, we also recommend the Samsung QN800A.
4. Samsung QN90B: Best QLED TV for Bright Rooms
While it is expensive for a non-OLED TV, the Samsung QN90A is one of the brightest TVs you can get, making it perfect for any room. Plus, it uses mini-LEDs that are divided into 720 local dimming zones, so you get excellent contrast and deep blacks that rival high-end OLED TVs.
Samsung also claims that the QN90A can display “100% color volume,” but the colors aren’t very accurate out of the box. If you can adjust the settings properly, this QLED TV will be able to display brighter, more vivid colors than most smart TVs.
Read More: How to calibrate a smart TV
With four HDMI 2.1 ports, the QN90B is also one of the best smart TVs you can get for gaming. It also supports FreeSync, and while it is not officially advertised, it is also G-SYNC compatible.
This smart TV uses Samsung’s Tizen interface, and it works with Google and Alexa. The only downside to this smart TV, other than the price, is the fact that it doesn’t support Dolby Vision HDR at 120 Hz. However, it still gets brighter than most TVs with regular HDR content and even SDR content.
5. LG C2: Best Smart OLED TV
If you’re looking for a TV to build a home theater around, the LG C2 has everything you need. This 4K TV has more than 8 million self-lighting “organic light-emitting diode” (OLED) pixels. That means each pixel can turn on and off individually, so you get a nearly infinite contrast ratio and “perfect blacks.”
Read More: LED vs QLED vs OLED: What’s the difference?
Since each pixel is controlled individually, OLED TVs are also great for watching action movies, sports, or anything with fast motion. The LG C2 is also great for gamers, with its extremely fast response time, low input lag, and support for both FreeSync and G-Sync VRR.
However, the problem with OLED TVs is that they don’t get nearly as bright as regular LED TVs. So, the LG C2 is only a good option for dark rooms without a lot of windows (unless you have curtains that stop most of the light from coming in). But when you are watching a movie in a dark room, nothing beats the picture quality of an OLED TV.
The LG C2 uses a new ‘Evo’ technology to increase image brightness. Previously, the C1 was only using standard OLED panels. The use of OLED ‘Evo’ panels over standard helps create darker darks while enriching the contrasts to a more noticeable level.
If you’re looking for a brighter OLED TV, we recommend the Sony A95K. However, it is more expensive than the LG C1, and it isn’t as good for gamers.
Once you choose a new TV, nothing will make it look better than mounting it on the wall. If you would rather avoid the hassle, HelloTech can send a technician to mount your TV for you. We have thousands of certified professionals across the country who can come to your home as soon as today. We’ll even mask your wires or hide them in the wall for an extra fee.
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